Resin composition, optical fiber, and method for producing optical fiber

ABSTRACT

This resin composition for secondary coating of an optical fiber contains: at least one type of polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether compound selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether having a number average molecular weight of 2500-10,000 and a derivative of said polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether; a photopolymerizable compound; and a photopolymerization initiator.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a resin composition for secondary coating of an optical fiber, an optical fiber, and a method for producing the optical fiber.

The present application claims the priority based on Japanese application No. 2020-003514, filed on Jan. 14, 2020, and the content described in the Japanese application is incorporated herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND ART

An optical fiber commonly comprises a coating resin layer for protecting a glass fiber that is an optical transmission medium. For example, the coating resin layer comprises two layers that are a primary resin layer in contact with the glass fibers and a secondary resin layer formed on the outer layer of the primary resin layer. The surface slidability, the scratch resistance, the tack preventing property, and the like are required for the secondary resin layer to prevent external damage of the optical fiber and improve the handleability of an optical fiber.

For example, improvement in surface slidability by forming a resin layer using a resin composition containing a silicone compound is disclosed in Patent Literatures 1 and 2. Improvement in a tack preventing property by forming a resin layer using a resin composition containing a specific urethane (meth)acrylate is disclosed in Patent Literatures 3 and 4.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: JP H9-278850 A -   Patent Literature 2: JP H9-328632 A -   Patent Literature 3: JP 2006-36989 A -   Patent Literature 4: JP 2005-89586 A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A resin composition for secondary coating of an optical fiber according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises at least one polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether compound selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether having a number average molecular weight of 2500 or more and 10000 or less and a derivative of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether, a photopolymerizable compound, and a photopolymerization initiator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing one example of an optical fiber according to the present embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Problem to be Solved by the Present Disclosure

In production lines of optical fibers, the surface slidability of coating resin layers may deteriorate gradually, and optical fibers may meander when the optical fibers are wound on bobbins, and the productivity of the optical fibers may deteriorate by external forces such as contact with guide rollers and screening tests (tests in which a tensile load of several kilograms is applied to optical fibers, and parts having low strength are removed beforehand). To improve the productivity of optical fibers, a secondary resin layer is required to be excellent in surface slidability and surface abrasion resistance when external force is applied to optical fibers.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a resin composition for secondary coating of an optical fiber that is excellent in surface slidability and surface abrasion resistance when external force is applied to the optical fiber, and the optical fiber that is excellent in productivity.

Effects of the Present Disclosure

According to the present disclosure, the resin composition for secondary coating of an optical fiber that is excellent in surface slidability and surface abrasion resistance when external force is applied to the optical fiber, and the optical fiber that is excellent in productivity can be provided.

Description of Embodiments of the Present Disclosure

The contents of the embodiment of the present disclosure are first enumerated and described. The resin composition for secondary coating of an optical fiber according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises at least one polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether compound selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of 2500 or more and 10000 or less and a derivative of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether, a photopolymerizable compound, and a photopolymerization initiator.

Such a resin composition can form the secondary resin layer that is excellent in surface slidability and surface abrasion resistance when external force is applied to the optical fiber, and the resin composition can therefore improve the productivity of the optical fiber.

The content of the above-mentioned polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether compound may be 0.05 parts by mass or more and 15 parts by mass or less based on the total amount of the resin composition of 100 parts by mass from the viewpoint of further improving the surface slidability and the surface abrasion resistance.

Since it is easy to improve the surface slidability, the above-mentioned polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether may contain at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether and polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene butyl ether.

Since it is easy to improve the surface slidability and the surface abrasion resistance, the derivative of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether may contain a urethane (meth)acrylate having a structure based on the above-mentioned polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether.

Since the abrasion resistance is still further improved, the above-mentioned urethane (meth)acrylate may be a reaction product of the above-mentioned polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether, a diisocyanate, and a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate, or may be a reaction product of the above-mentioned polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether and an isocyanate group-containing (meth)acrylate.

The optical fiber according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a glass fiber including a core and a cladding; a primary resin layer coating the glass fiber in contact with the glass fiber; and a secondary resin layer coating the primary resin layer, and the secondary resin layer contains a cured material of the above-mentioned resin composition. Such an optical fiber is excellent in surface slidability and surface abrasion resistance, and can improve the productivity of the optical fiber.

A method for producing the optical fiber according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: an application step of applying the above-mentioned resin composition to the periphery of the glass fiber including the core and the cladding, and a curing step of curing the resin composition by irradiation with ultraviolet rays after the application step. The optical fiber that is excellent in surface slidability and surface abrasion resistance can be produced thereby.

Details of the Embodiments of the Present Disclosure

Specific examples of the resin composition and the optical fiber according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a drawing if needed. The present disclosure is not limited to this exemplification, is shown by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications in meanings and a scope equivalent to the claims. In the following descriptions, the same components are indicated with the same reference numeral, and the same descriptions are omitted in the description of the drawing. In the present embodiment, a (meth)acrylate means an acrylate or a methacrylate corresponding thereto. Other similar expressions such as (meth)acryloyl are in the same way.

(Resin Composition)

The resin composition according to the present embodiment comprises at least one polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether compound selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether having an Mn of 2500 or more and 10000 or less and the derivative of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether, a photopolymerizable compound, and a photopolymerization initiator. When the resin composition according to the present embodiment contains the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether having a specific molecular weight or the derivative thereof, the resin composition according to the present embodiment can form the secondary resin layer that is excellent in surface slidability and surface abrasion resistance when external force is applied to the optical fiber. The resin composition according to the present embodiment only have to contain either one of the above-mentioned polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether and the derivative thereof, or may contain both.

The polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether is a compound having an oxyalkylene group, an alkoxy group, and a hydroxyl group. Examples of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether according to the present embodiment include polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene stearyl ether, polyoxyethylene alkyl (C₁₂ to C₁₄) ethers, polyoxyethylene tridecyl ether, polyoxyethylene myristyl ether, polyoxyethylene isostearyl ether, polyoxyethylene octyldodecyl ether, polyoxyethylene cholesteryl ether, polyoxypropylene butyl ether, polyoxypropylene myristyl ether, polyoxypropylene cetyl ether, polyoxypropylene stearyl ether, polyoxypropylene lanolin alcohol ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene butyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene cetyl ether, polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene stearyl ether, and polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene decyl tetradecyl ether.

Since it is easy to improve the surface slidability, the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether may contain at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxypropylene butyl ether and polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene butyl ether.

When the Mn of polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether is less than 2500, it is difficult to obtain the effect of the slidability, the Mn of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether is therefore 2500 or more, and the Mn may however be 2600 or more, or 2800 or more. Since it is difficult to synthesize a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether having an Mn of 10000 or more, the Mn of polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether is 10000 or less, the Mn may however be 8000 or less, or 6000 or less.

Since it is easy to improve the surface slidability and the surface abrasion resistance, the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether may contain high molecular weight components having molecular weights of 50000 or more and have an asymmetrical molecular weight distribution having a tail on the high molecular weight side. Examples of such a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether include the trade names “ACROBUTE MB-90” and “ACROBUTE MB-52” produced by NOF CORPORATION.

The derivative of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether according to the present embodiment is a compound having a structure based on the above-mentioned polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether. Since it is easy to improve the surface slidability and the surface abrasion resistance, it is preferable that the above-mentioned derivative contain a compound having a structure based on the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether and (meth)acryloyl groups, and it is more preferable that the above-mentioned derivative contain the urethane (meth)acrylate having a structure based on the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether (hereinafter referred to as a “urethane (meth)acrylate (A)”). Since the derivative of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether having (meth)acryloyl groups has photopolymerizability, the derivative can be polymerized with the below-mentioned photopolymerizable compound to contribute to the curing of the resin composition.

Since the abrasion resistance is still further improved, the urethane (meth)acrylate (A) may be a reaction product of the above-mentioned polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether, the diisocyanate, and the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate or a reaction product of the above-mentioned polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether and the isocyanate group-containing (meth)acrylate.

Examples of the diisocyanate include 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate, diphenylmethane diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate, hydrogenated xylylene diisocyanate, 1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate, norbornene diisocyanate, 1,5-pentamethylene diisocyanate, tetramethylxylylene diisocyanate, and trimethylhexamethylene diisocyanate.

Examples of the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate include 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl (meth)acrylate, caprolactone (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-(meth)acryloyloxyethyl-2-hydroxyethyl phthalic acid, 2-hydroxy-O-phenylphenolpropyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxy-3-methacrylpropyl acrylate, trimethylolpropane di(meth)acrylate, and pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate.

Examples of the isocyanate group-containing (meth)acrylate include 2-acryloyloxyethyl isocyanate, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl isocyanate, and 2-(2-isocyanatoethoxy)ethyl methacrylate.

An organotin compound or an amine compound is used as a catalyst when a urethane (meth)acrylate is synthesized. Examples of the organotin compound include dibutyltin dilaurate, dibutyltin diacetate, dibutyltin maleate, dibutyltin bis(2-ethylhexyl mercaptoacetate), dibutyltin bis(isooctyl mercaptoacetate), and dibutyltin oxide. It is preferable to use dibutyltin dilaurate or dibutyltin diacetate from the viewpoints of availability or catalyst performance as the catalyst.

It is preferable that the content of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether compound be 0.05 parts by mass or more, it is more preferable that the content be 0.1 parts by mass or more, and it is further preferable that the content be 0.2 parts by mass or more based on the total amount of the resin composition (100 parts by mass) from the viewpoint of obtaining enough slidability. It is preferable that the content be 15 parts by mass or less, it is more preferable that the content be 10 parts by mass or less, and it is further preferable that the content be 7 parts by mass or less based on the total amount of the resin composition from the viewpoint of obtaining enough hardness as secondary coating.

The photopolymerizable compound according to the present embodiment may contain a urethane (meth)acrylate different from the urethane (meth)acrylate (A) (hereinafter referred to as a “urethane (meth)acrylate (B)”) from the viewpoint of forming a tough secondary resin layer.

The urethane (meth)acrylate (B) may be a reaction product of a polyol having an Mn of 350 or more and 2500 or less, a diisocyanate, and a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate. It is preferable that the urethane (meth)acrylate (B) have urethane structure based on the reaction of the polyol having an Mn of 350 or more and 2500 or less and the diisocyanate and (meth)acryloyl groups bound to terminals of the urethane structure.

The polyol having an Mn of 350 or more and 2500 or less and the diisocyanate can be reacted at an NCO/OH of 1.5 or more and 4 or less, and the reaction product can then be reacted with the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate to obtain the urethane (meth)acrylate (B). When the NCO/OH is in the above-mentioned range, the formation of the tough secondary resin layer is facilitated.

It is more preferable that the Mn of the polyol constituting the urethane (meth)acrylate (B) be 400 or more and 2200 or less, and it is further preferable that the Mn be 500 or more and 2000 or less from the viewpoint of improving the toughness of the secondary resin layer.

Examples of the polyol include polytetramethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, polyester polyols, polycaprolactone polyols, polycarbonate polyols, polybutadiene polyols, and a bisphenol A-ethylene oxide adduct diol. Especially, it is preferable to use polypropylene glycol as a polyol.

Hereinafter, the preparation of the urethane (meth)acrylate (B) will be described by giving a specific example. For example, polypropylene glycol is used as the polyol, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate is used as the diisocyanate, and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate is used as the hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate. First, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate is reacted with polypropylene glycol to synthesize an NCO terminal prepolymer. Then, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate is reacted with the NCO terminal prepolymer to synthesize the urethane acrylate. The urethane acrylate can be represented by the following formula (1):

A-(U-I-U-P)n-U-I-U-A  (1)

wherein A represents a 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate residue, U represents a urethane bond, I represents a 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate residue, P represents a polypropylene glycol residue, and n is an integer of 1 or more. With respect to n, the proportion of urethane bonds which the urethane acrylate has can be varied by changing the NCO/OH. As the NCO/OH becomes lower, n becomes larger, and as the NCO/OH becomes higher, n becomes smaller.

It is preferable that the content of the urethane (meth)acrylate (B) be 5 parts by mass or more and 60 parts by mass or less, and it is more preferable that the content be 10 parts by mass or more and 50 parts by mass or less based on the total amount of the resin composition from the viewpoint of improving the toughness of the secondary resin layer.

Since moderate toughness is imparted to the secondary resin layer, the photopolymerizable compound according to the present embodiment may further contain an epoxy (meth)acrylate. The epoxy (meth)acrylate is a compound obtained by reacting a compound having a (meth)acryloyl group with an epoxy compound having two or more glycidyl groups.

Since the abrasion resistance is further improved, it is preferable that epoxy (meth)acrylate have an aromatic ring. Examples of the epoxy (meth)acrylate having an aromatic ring include a novolac epoxy (meth)acrylate, the trade name “Viscoat #540” produced by OSAKA ORGANIC CHEMICAL INDUSTRY LTD., and the trade names “EPOXY ESTER 3002M”, “EPOXY ESTER 3002A”, “EPOXY ESTER 3000MK”, and “EPOXY ESTER 3000A” by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.

Since flexibility is imparted to the secondary resin layer, the photopolymerizable compound according to the present embodiment may also further contain an epoxy (meth)acrylate not having an aromatic ring. Examples of the epoxy (meth)acrylate not having an aromatic ring include the trade names “EPOXY ESTER 40EM”, “EPOXY ESTER 70PA”, “EPOXY ESTER 200PA”, and “EPOXY ESTER 80MFA” produced by Kyoeisha Chemical Co., Ltd.

The content of the epoxy (meth)acrylate may be 5 parts by mass or more, 10 parts by mass or more, or 20 parts by mass or more, and may be 70 parts by mass or less, 65 parts by mass or less, or 60 parts by mass or less based on the total amount of the resin composition.

The photopolymerizable compound according to the present embodiment may further contain a photopolymerizable compound other than a urethane (meth)acrylate and an epoxy (meth)acrylate (hereinafter referred to as a “monomer”). As the monomer, a monofunctional monomer having one photopolymerizable ethylenic unsaturated group or a polyfunctional monomer having two or more ethylenic unsaturated groups can be used. The monomers may be used as a mixture of two or more.

Examples of the monofunctional monomer include (meth)acrylate-based monomers such as methyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl (meth)acrylate, propyl (meth)acrylate, n-butyl (meth)acrylate, s-butyl (meth)acrylate, t-butyl (meth)acrylate, isobutyl (meth)acrylate, n-pentyl (meth)acrylate, isopentyl (meth)acrylate, hexyl (meth)acrylate, heptyl (meth)acrylate, isoamyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, n-octyl (meth)acrylate, isooctyl (meth)acrylate, isodecyl (meth)acrylate, lauryl (meth)acrylate, phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, benzyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentanyl (meth)acrylate, nonylphenol polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate (for example, the trade name “SR504” produced by Sartomer), nonylphenoxypolyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, isobornyl (meth)acrylate, 3-phenoxybenzyl (meth)acrylate, methylphenoxy ethyl (meth)acrylate, phenoxydiethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, phenoxypolyethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, in-phenoxybenzyl (meth)acrylate, 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl (meth)acrylate, and 2-hydroxy-3-phenoxypropyl acrylate; carboxyl group-containing monomers such as (meth)acrylic acid, (meth)acrylic acid dimers, carboxyethyl (meth)acrylate, carboxypentyl (meth)acrylate, and ω-carboxypolycaprolactone (meth)acrylate; and nitrogen-containing monomers such as N-acryloyl morpholine, N-vinyl pyrrolidone, N-vinylcaprolactam, 3-(3-pyridinyl)propyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, N-hydroxyethylacrylamide, N,N-diethylacrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylaminopropyl acryl amide, N,N-dimethylaminopropylacrylamide-methyl chloride salt, diacetone acrylamide, N-acryloylpiperidine, N-methacryloylpiperidine, N-acryloylpyrrolidine, maleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide, N-phenylmaleimide, (meth)acrylamide, N,N-dimethyl(meth)acrylamide, N-hexyl(meth)acrylamide, N-methyl(meth)acrylamide, N-butyl(meth)acrylamide, N-methylol(meth)acrylamide, N-methylolpropane(meth)acrylamide, aminoethyl (meth)acrylate, aminopropyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, and t-butylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate.

Examples of the polyfunctional monomer include difunctional monomers such as ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycol di(meth)acrylate, tripropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, triethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, cyclohexanedimethanol di(meth)acrylate, dipropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, tetraethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, hydroxypivalate neopentyl glycol di(meth)acrylate, 1,3-butylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, 1,4-butanediol di(meth)acrylate, diethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,9-nonanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,12-dodecanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,14-tetradecanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,16-haxadecanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,20-eicosanediol di(meth)acrylate, isopentyldiol di(meth)acrylate, 3-ethyl-1,8-octanediol di(meth)acrylate, tricyclodecanol di(meth)acrylate, 9,9-bis[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]fluorene di(meth)acrylate, and bisphenol A-ethylene oxide adduct di(meth)acrylate (for example, the trade name “Viscoat #700HV” produced by OSAKA ORGANIC CHEMICAL INDUSTRY LTD.); and tri- or more functional monomers such as trimethylolpropane tri(meth)acrylate, trimethyloloctane tri(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane polyethoxy tri(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane polypropoxy tri(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane polyethoxy polypropoxy tri(meth)acrylate, tris[(meth)acryloyloxyethyl] isocyanurate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol polyethoxy tetra(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol polypropoxy tetra(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate, ditrimethylolpropane tetra(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol penta(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol hexa(meth)acrylate, and caprolactone-modified tris[(meth)acryloyloxyethyl] isocyanurate.

The photopolymerization initiator can be suitably selected from well-known radical photopolymerization initiators and used. Examples of the photopolymerization initiator include 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (Omnirad 184, produced by IGM Resins B.V.), 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyl acetophenone (Omnirad 651, produced by IGM Resins B.V.), 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide (Omnirad TPO, produced by IGM Resins B.V.), ethyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)-phenyl phosphinate (Omnirad TPO-L, produced by IGM Resins B.V.), 2-benzoyl-2-dimethylamino-4′-morpholinobutyrophenone (Omnirad TPO369, produced by IGM Resins B.V.), 2-dimethylamino-2-(4-methylbenzyl)-1-(4-morpholin-4-yl-phenyl)-butan-1-one (Omnirad TPO 379, produced by IGM Resins B.V.), bis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phenylphosphine oxide (Omnirad 819, produced by IGM Resins B.V.), and 2-methyl-1-[4-(methylthio)phenyl]-2-morpholinopropan-1-one (Omnirad 907, produced by IGM Resins B.V.).

The photopolymerization initiator may be used as a mixture of two or more. It is preferable due to excellent rapid curability of the resin composition that the photopolymerization initiator contain 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyldiphenylphosphine oxide.

It is preferable that the content of the photopolymerization initiator be 0.2 parts by mass or more and 5 parts by mass or less, it is more preferable that the content be 0.4 parts by mass or more and 3 parts by mass or less, and it is further preferable that the content be 0.5 parts by mass or more and 2 parts by mass or less based on the total amount of the resin composition.

The resin composition according to the present embodiment may further contain a photoacid generator, a leveling agent, an antifoaming agent, an antioxidant, and the like.

An onium salt having a structure of A⁺B⁻ may be used as the photoacid generator. Examples of the photoacid generator include sulfonium salts such as CPI-100P and 110P (produced by San-Apro Ltd.) and Omnicat 270 and 290 (produced by IGM Resins B.V.); and iodonium salts such as Omnicat 250 (produced by IGM Resins B. V.), WPI-113, 116, 124, 169, and 170 (produced by FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation).

(Optical Fiber)

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing one example of the optical fiber according to the present embodiment. An optical fiber 10 comprises a glass fiber 13 including a core 11 and a cladding 12 and a coating resin layer 16 including a primary resin layer 14 and a secondary resin layer 15 provided on the periphery of the glass fiber 13.

The cladding 12 surrounds the core 11. The core 11 and the cladding 12 mainly contain glass such as silica glass, and for example, germanium-added silica glass or pure silica glass can be used for the core 11, and pure silica glass or fluorine-added silica glass can be used for the cladding 12.

In FIG. 1 , for example, the outer diameter of the glass fiber 13 (D2) is around 100 μm to 125 μm. The diameter of the core 11 (D1), constituting the glass fiber 13, is around 7 μm to 15 μm.

The thickness of the coating resin layer 16 is usually around 60 μm to 70 μm. The thickness of each layer of the primary resin layer 14 and the secondary resin layer 15 may be around 20 μm to 40 μm, and for example, the thickness of the primary resin layer 14 may be 35 μm, and the thickness of the secondary resin layer 15 may be 25 μm. When many optical fibers are gathered to form a cable, it is preferable that the coating diameter of an optical fiber be small. In that case, it is preferable that the total thickness of the coating resin layer 16 be 30 μm or more and 40 μm or less, and the thickness of the primary resin layer and the secondary resin layer can each be 10 μm or more and 30 μm or less.

The resin composition according to the present embodiment can be applied to the secondary resin layer to produce an optical fiber that is excellent in productivity.

The method for producing the optical fiber according to the present embodiment comprises: an application step of applying the above-mentioned resin composition to the periphery of the glass fiber including the core and the cladding; and a curing step of curing the resin composition by irradiation with ultraviolet rays after the application step.

It is preferable that the Young's modulus of the secondary resin layer be 500 MPa or more at 23° C.±2° C., and it is more preferable that the Young's modulus be 800 MPa or more from the viewpoint of improving the microbending resistance of the optical fiber. Although the upper limit of the Young's modulus of the secondary resin layer is not particularly limited, the upper limit may be 3000 MPa or less, 2500 MPa or less, 2000 MPa or less, or 1500 MPa or less at 23° C.±2° C. from the viewpoint of imparting moderate toughness to the secondary resin layer.

The Young's modulus of the secondary resin layer can be measured by the following method. First, the optical fiber is immersed in a mixed solvent of acetone and ethanol, and only the coating resin layer is extracted in a cylindrical shape. Although the primary resin layer and the secondary resin layer are united at this time, the Young's modulus of the primary resin layer is 1/1000 to 1/10000 of the Young's modulus of the secondary resin layer, the Young's modulus of the primary resin layer is therefore negligible. Next, the solvent is removed from the coating resin layer by vacuum drying, a tensile test (the tensile speed is 1 mm/minute) can be performed at 23° C., and the Young's modulus can be calculated by a secant expression at 2.5% strain.

The resin composition containing, for example, the urethane (meth)acrylate, the monomer, the photopolymerization initiator, and the like can be cured to form the primary resin layer 14. The resin composition that forms the primary resin layer has a constitution different from the resin composition for secondary coating. The resin composition for the primary coating can be prepared using a conventionally well-known technique.

It is preferable that the Young's modulus of the primary resin layer be 0.5 MPa or less. When the Young's modulus of the primary resin layer exceeds 0.5 MPa, external force is easily transmitted to the glass fiber, and the transmission loss increase due to microbending may rise.

A plurality of optical fibers may be paralleled and integrated with a resin for a ribbon to form an optical fiber ribbon. The resin composition according to the present disclosure can also be used as the resin for a ribbon. The surface slidability and the surface abrasion resistance when external force is applied to the optical fiber ribbon can be improved thereby in the same way as the optical fiber.

Examples

Hereinafter, the results of evaluation tests using Examples and Comparative Examples according to the present disclosure will be shown, and the present disclosure will be described in further detail. The present invention is not limited to these Examples.

[Polyoxyalkylene Monoalkyl Ether]

As polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ethers, a polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether having an Mn of 5000 (“ACROBUTE MB-90” produced by NOF CORPORATION), a polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether having an Mn of 3000 (“ACROBUTE MB-52” produced by NOF CORPORATION), a polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether having an Mn of 2300 (“UNILUBE MB-370” produced by NOF CORPORATION), and a polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether having an Mn of 4000 (“UNILUBE 50 MB-168” produced by NOF CORPORATION) were provided.

[Synthesis of Derivative of Polyoxyalkylene Monoalkyl Ether]

(A-1)

A polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether having an Mn of 5000 (ACROBUTE MB-90) and 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate (TDI) were reacted at 60° C. for 1 hour with the molar ratio of NCO to OH (NCO/OH) adjusted to 2.0 to prepare an NCO terminal prepolymer. As a catalyst, 200 ppm dibutyltin dilaurate was added with respect to the final total fed amount. Next, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) was added so that the molar ratio of the OH of HEA to the NCO of the NCO terminal prepolymer was 1.05, and the mixture was reacted at 60° C. for 1 hour to obtain a urethane acrylate (A-1) that was a derivative of a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether.

(A-2)

A urethane acrylate (A-2) was obtained in the same way as in the synthesis of (A-1) except that a polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether having an Mn of 3000 (ACROBUTE MB-52) and TDI were reacted at an NCO/OH of 2.0 to prepare an NCO terminal prepolymer.

(A-3)

A urethane acrylate (A-3) was obtained in the same way as in the synthesis of (A-1) except that a polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether having an Mn of 4000 (UNILUBE 50 MB-168) and TDI were reacted at an NCO/OH of 2.0 to prepare an NCO terminal prepolymer.

(A-4)

A polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether having an Mn of 5000 (ACROBUTE MB-90) and 2-acryloyloxyethyl isocyanate were reacted at an NCO/OH of 1.0 at 60° C. for 1 hour to obtain a urethane acrylate (A-4).

(A-5)

A urethane acrylate (A-5) was obtained in the same way as in the synthesis of (A-1) except that a polyoxypropylene monobutyl ether having an Mn of 2300 (UNILUBE MB-370) and TDI were reacted at an NCO/OH of 2.0 to prepare an NCO terminal prepolymer.

[Synthesis of Urethane Acrylate]

(B-1)

A urethane acrylate having an Mn of 1900 (B-1) was obtained in the same way as in the synthesis of (A-1) except that polypropylene glycol having an Mn of 400 (PPG400) and isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) were reacted at an NCO/OH of 1.5 to prepare an NCO terminal prepolymer.

(B-2)

A urethane acrylate having an Mn of 2200 (B-2) was obtained in the same way as in the synthesis of (A-1) except that polypropylene glycol having an Mn of 600 (PPG600) and TDI were reacted at an NCO/OH of 2.0 to prepare an NCO terminal prepolymer.

(B-3)

A urethane acrylate having an Mn of 5400 (B-3) was obtained in the same way as in the synthesis of (A-1) except that polypropylene glycol having an Mn of 2000 (PPG2000) and TDI were reacted at an NCO/OH of 2.0 to prepare an NCO terminal prepolymer.

(Z-1)

A urethane acrylate having an Mn of 10800 (Z-1) was obtained in the same way as in the synthesis of (B-1) except that PPG3000 and IPDI were reacted at an NCO/OH of 1.5 to prepare an NCO terminal prepolymer.

The Mn was measured using an ACQUITY APC RI system manufactured by Nihon Waters K.K. under the conditions of sample concentration: 0.2% by mass THF solution, injection rate: 20 μL, sample temperature: 15° C., mobile phase: THF, XT columns for organic solvent: particle size 2.5 μm, pore size 450 A, column inner diameter 4.6×column length 150 mm+particle size 2.5 μm, pore size 125 A, column inner diameter 4.6×column length 150 mm+particle size 1.7 μm, pore size 45 A, column inner diameter 4.6×column length 150 mm, column temperature: 40° C., and flow velocity: 0.8 mL/minute.

[Resin Composition for Secondary Coating]

Polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether compounds, urethane acrylates, tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA), bisphenol A-ethylene oxide adduct diacrylate (Viscoat #700HV), an epoxy acrylate (Viscoat #540), and 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenyl phosphine oxide (Omnirad TPO) were mixed in blended amounts (part by mass) shown in Table 1 or Table 2 to prepare resin compositions for secondary coatings of Examples and Comparative Examples.

(Resin Composition for Primary Coating)

First, 70 parts by mass of the urethane acrylate (Z-1), 19 parts by mass of nonylphenol polyethylene glycol acrylate (produced by Sartomer, the trade name “SR504”), 10 parts by mass of isobornyl acrylate, and 1 part by mass of Omnirad TPO were mixed to obtain a resin composition for a primary coating.

[Production of Optical Fiber]

The resin composition for a primary coating and each resin composition for secondary coating were each applied to the peripheral surface of the glass fiber 13. Subsequently, the resin compositions were cured by irradiation with ultraviolet rays, the coating resin layer 16 comprising the primary resin layer 14 and the secondary resin layer 15 was formed to produce the optical fiber 10. The thickness of the primary resin layer 14 was adjusted to 35 μm, and the thickness of the secondary resin layer 15 was adjusted to 25 μm.

(Young's Modulus of Secondary Resin Layer)

The optical fiber is immersed in a mixed solvent of acetone and ethanol, and only the coating resin layer is extracted in a cylindrical shape. Next, the solvent is removed from the coating resin layer by vacuum drying, a tensile test (the tensile speed is 1 mm/minute) can be then performed in a thermostatic chamber at 23° C., and the Young's modulus of the secondary resin layer was calculated by dividing stress calculated by a secant expression at 2.5% strain by the cross section of the secondary resin layer.

(Winding Abnormality Frequency of Optical Fiber)

To evaluate the productivity of the optical fiber, the winding abnormality frequency was measured. First, 500 km of the optical fiber was wound at a linear velocity of 1000 m/minute (50 km×10 bobbins), and the transmission loss of the optical fiber of each bobbin in the longitudinal direction was evaluated using an OTDR (optical time domain reflectometer). The measurement wavelength was 1550 nm. An optical fiber in which points at which the Point Discontinuities exceed 0.05 dB (winding abnormality frequency) were 5 points or less/500 km was regarded as acceptable.

TABLE 1 Example Example Comparative Comparative 1 2 Example 1 Example 2 MB-90 (Mn5000) 2 — — — MB-52 (Mn3000) — 2 — — MB-370 (Mn2300) — — — 2 B-2 35 35 35 35 Viscoat #540 20 20 20 20 TPGDA 32 32 34 32 Viscoat #700 10 10 10 10 Omnirad TPO 1 1 1 1 Young's modulus 1060 1060 1080 1060 (MPa) Winding 2 5 24 22 abnormality frequency

TABLE 2 Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Example Comparative 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Example 3 A-1 2 — — — 0.1 0.3 5 10 2  2 A-2 —  2 — — — — — — — — — A-3 — —  2 — — — — — — — — A-4 — — —  2 — — — — — — — A-5 — — — — — — — — — —  2 B-1 — — — — — — — — 50 — — B-2 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 35 — — 35 B-3 — — — — — — — — — 10 — Viscoat 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 10 40 20 #540 TPGDA 32 32 32 32 33.9 33.7 29 24 19 38 32 Viscoat 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 18 — 10 #700 Omnirad 1  1  1  1 1 1 1  1 1 10  1 TPO Young's 1060 1060  1060  1060  1080 1080 900 710  1110 1000  1060  modulus (MPa) Winding 0  1  2  0 5 2 0  4 0  0 19 abnormality frequency

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   10: Optical Fiber -   11: Core -   12: Cladding -   13: Glass Fiber -   14: Primary Resin Layer -   15: Secondary Resin Layer -   16: Coating Resin Layer 

1: A resin composition for secondary coating of an optical fiber, comprising: at least one polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether compound selected from the group consisting of a polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether having a number average molecular weight of 2500 or more and 10000 or less and a derivative of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether; a photopolymerizable compound; and a photopolymerization initiator. 2: The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein a content of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether compound is 0.05 parts by mass or more and 15 parts by mass or less based on a total amount of the resin composition of 100 parts by mass. 3: The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of polyoxypropylene butyl ether and polyoxyethylene polyoxypropylene butyl ether. 4: The resin composition according to claim 1, wherein the derivative of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether comprises a urethane (meth)acrylate having a structure based on the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether. 5: The resin composition according to claim 4, wherein the urethane (meth)acrylate is a reaction product of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether, a diisocyanate, and a hydroxyl group-containing (meth)acrylate. 6: The resin composition according to claim 4, wherein the urethane (meth)acrylate is a reaction product of the polyoxyalkylene monoalkyl ether and an isocyanate group-containing (meth)acrylate. 7: An optical fiber, comprising: a glass fiber comprising a core and a cladding; a primary resin layer coating the glass fiber in contact with the glass fiber; and a secondary resin layer coating the primary resin layer, wherein the secondary resin layer comprises a cured material of the resin composition according to claim
 1. 8: A method for producing an optical fiber, comprising: an application step of applying the resin composition according to claim 1 to a periphery of a glass fiber comprising a core and a cladding; and a curing step of curing the resin composition by irradiation with ultraviolet rays after the application step. 